POWER PLAYERS: “WOMEN’S TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN A FAST-CHANGING CONTINENT” FORUM

As a component of “Celebrate Africa 3.0”, the women’s leadership forum aims to:

(1) Bring together decisions makers, entrepreneurs, development experts, foreign policy wonks, academics, community activists, artists, from Africa and the United States, to reflect on the roles women play in Africa and how their dreams, passions, energies and leadership skills should be best harnessed to power Africa into a brighter, more prosperous, peaceful future in a more decisive manner, beneficial for all and inclusive of all – the women, the youth, the men, and the institutions.

(2) Create an environment that will foster an exchange of ideas and strategies to enhance women’s involvement in ongoing changes at each level of society.

(3) Provide a space for attendees to network with each other both socially and professionally and develop opportunities for mutual support and collaboration.

(4) Showcase the power of the African women and how it can be of benefit on the African continent and in the Diaspora.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015 – 4:30 – 7:00PM

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Speakers

Christine St Vil

Founder/CEO, Moms 'N Charge™

Christine St.Vil is a wife, mother of three, speaker, blogger, author and trainer. She is relentless about helping women, particularly moms, take charge of their lives by learning how to feel good without feeling guilty. Through her work with Moms ‘N Charge™, Purpose Driven Media™, LLC (PDM) was created to teach women entrepreneurs how to…

Ngozi Azubike

Executive Vice President, OBAN Corp

Ms. Azubike is the Executive Vice President of OBAN Corp, a management consulting and healthcare consulting firm headquartered in Vienna, VA. She was formerly the CEO of Advanced Performance Consulting Group, Inc., a management consulting firm that was acquired by ICF International in 2007. She is a highly accomplished entrepreneurial executive with 20+ years of…

Susan Markham

Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Susan Markham is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. In that role, she is working to improve the lives of citizens around the world by advancing equality between females and males, and empowering women and girls to participate fully in and benefit from the development of their societies. Susan comes with…

Ms. Julian Kiganda

Founder, Bold and Fearless

Julian B. Kiganda is a dynamic speaker, writer and creative consultant. Her passion for infusing creativity, culture and communication into all she does has allowed her myriad opportunities in varied arenas. In her 15+ years of experience as a multicultural design and communications expert, she has created powerful brands for clients including: the African Union,…

Mrs. Oni Richards Waritay

Executive Director, African Family Health Organization

Oni Richards-Waritay currently serves as the Executive Director of the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) where she is responsible for developing, implementing and managing health and human service programs for the African and Caribbean immigrant and refugee community in the greater Philadelphia area as well as directing the administrative functions of the organization. She brings more than six years…

Mrs. Lepang Ferguson

2015 Mandela Washington Fellow

Lepang has been a Communications Consultant for 12 years. She has won numerous awards for her work as a Creative entrepreneur, including the JCI Creative Entrepreneur of the year 2010, Young Outstanding Person of the World Honoree for 2012 and St Louis Top 40 Under 40. She has worked with clients such the United Nations, The African Youth…

Mrs. Magdalene Ayorkor Matthews

2015 Mandela Washington Fellow (Liberia)

Magdalene Matthews has over five years’ experience working in public management, specifically in the development sector, holding various administrative and programmatic positions. Currently, she serves as program manager and water quality specialist for the Liberia Municipal Water Project, where she supports programming and coordinates the water quality and environmental compliance components of the project. Magdalene is the author of…

Ms. Rahama Wright

Rahama Wright is a social entrepreneur working to innovate the shea butter supply chain in West Africa. In 2005, she launched Shea Yeleen International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports women-owned cooperatives in West Africa, and provides training on quality assurance and micro-enterprise development. With a vision to develop an integrative and sustainable supply chain, Ms. Wright created Shea…